Jodie Foster's New Wife: 5 Things to Know About Alexandra Hedison

One of Hollywood's most private stars, Jodie Foster has long kept her love life out of the public eye.

But with the surprise news of Foster's weekend wedding to her girlfriend of nearly a year, Alexandra Hedison, the newlyweds now face a brighter public spotlight.

Here are five things to know about the Oscar winner's new wife:

1. She grew up in Hollywood.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hedison, 44, is the daughter of David Hedison, a stage, film and television actor best known for his role as James Bond's ally Felix Leiter in Live and Let Die and License to Kill.

2. She is Ellen DeGeneres's ex.The pair dated from 2001 to 2004. "I'd have to be Oprah to compete with her," Hedison told The New York Times in a 2004 article.

3. She's a former actress.In the late 1990s, Hedison appeared alongside Debra Messing in the sci-fi series Prey and had small roles on Melrose Place and Lois & Clark. She later snagged a recurring role on the Showtime drama The L Word in 2006 and 2009. Ultimately, though, Hedison found acting unsatisfying. "I was supporting myself, but I was miserable," she told The New York Times. "Actors need to be front and center all the time. That's not me."